Can’t I rate this movie with more than 5 stars?! Because it is certainly more than that.
It is definitely a movie that will keep you at the edge of your seat. It’s not your typical war movie that only tells of the story of what happened in Ancient Greece like that of Troy for example. It is more than that.
This film was shot 90% on blue screen and 10% on green screen (and I think a small percentage was shot on location). So just imagine the process of post production that this film underwent. Shooting took only 60 days and post for almost a year and a half. It was ingenious.
The movie is an art in itself. It is like watching a dance that will mesmerize you and take you to otherworldly things and let you experience something that will definitely captivate you. The slow motion during the fight sequences and throughout the duration of the film (they majorly used it during important scenes that they want to emphasize) worked very well since it will make you see exactly what happened and make you appreciate the blood and gore and how Spartans fought for their freedom. Prepare for Glory, really.
They maintained the high-contrast throughout the whole film. There were some gritty parts as well especially during close-ups which worked really well also. Making the whole film an epic film with a touch of modernity in it. It can very well be surreal as well and can be compared to deviant art. Although it is much much better.
The storyline is predictable (typical war setting between Ancient Greece and the vast empire of Persia) since it is told through the ages to us but the way it was portrayed in the film made a lot of difference. There was even humor (however crude it was) in the wall of dead bodies that the Spartans built. The conversations was witty too. Loyalty, bravery, courage and love. 🙂
The music that they used were something else as well since it ranged from a powerful operatic tune to hard core metal rock during fight scenes. In Filipino terms, “Ang angas!”
King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) performed to the best of his abilities and will make you feel what he was feeling as he was leading his 300 men to war. Queen Gorgo (Lena Heady) was fitting to be the queen to the king of Sparta and gave new meaning to the power of being a female. Especially when she spoke in front of the councilmen of Sparta and revealed the treacherous Theron (Dominic West) to all of Sparta, earning her the respect of the politicians and councilmen. Dilios (David Wenham) leading the rest of Greece in their fight with Persia after King Leonidas died while fighting for Greece’s right to remain free, was an exhilarating character as well. Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) gave a chilling performance as the god king and ruler of Persia, especially when bargaining with Leonidas and the rest of the Spartans that were with him. Overall, the whole cast of this film earned an earnest standing ovation from their audience.
And oh, one last thing – if you want to go gaga over men with good looking bods, hot real bods that would make you salivate – then this is the film for you. ;p It’s better than Troy, better than Brad Pitt’s ass and according to a friend of mine, better than porn. 🙂
Favorite line/s:
1.) PERSIAN OFFICER: SPARTANS! Lay down your weapons!!!
KING LEONIDAS: PERSIANS! Come and get them!!!!
2.) KING LEONIDAS: SPARTANS! Ready your breakfast and eat hearty! For tonight, we dine in hell!!
3.) PERSIAN OFFICER: Our arrows will blot out the sun!
STELIOS: Then we will fight in the shade!
Ruth Medina-Ilasco 